Historic canalside warehouse set to become 32 apartments

An ambitious plan to convert a near 200-year-old canalside warehouse into 32 apartments has been given the go-ahead. A previous scheme to transform the Grade II-listed Bridgeworks building on the southern bank of the Bridgewater Canal in Altrincham for residential use when a 21-home scheme expired in 2007.

But now, applicants Sliverlane Developments (NW) Ltd and GSD1 Ltd - described as residential and mixed-use developers and investors - have revived the plan. The aim is to partially demolish the existing three-storey building, repair and alter what is left and carry out a roof extension to five-storeys, with parking, a sub-station and landscaping.

A design and access statement submitted by Jeffrey Bell Architects alluded to the previous plan when it said: “The previous planning permission for 21 apartments, which expired in 2007, was not implemented which indicates it was not a viable proposition. Therefore, for any proposals to seriously move forward, bringing the listed building back into use, the proposal needs to be financially viable.”

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It goes on: “The applicants can therefore only make this work financially with significantly more development at the site, and even then, it is marginal.” To meet the ‘initial viability constraints’ and to save the listed building the scheme is for 32 two homes - 13 one-bed, 13 two-bed and with the remainder three-bed units.

The statement continues: “The development and project team’s intention are to deliver a unique project that repurposes and manages change to an important heritage asset in a way that retains and enhances its significance, whilst responding to market demand for a